Ethiopia Requires a Deposit (no Carnet or TIP)
 

just a quick warning, people on FB reporting that Ethiopia now requires a cash deposit.

No TIP or carnet accepted

Original post here

East Route of Africa in trouble: Ethopia: Carnet / TIP not accepted
 

Unfortunately, the issues already outlined on the eastern route of Africa, more precisely when entering Ethiopia, have been confirmed. The carnet will not be accepted and no tip will be issued. A substantial deposit must be deposited upon entry.

Over $82,000 was required for a rather aged pickup with a cabin. You can find more prices on my german blog

https://www.4x4tripping.com/2022/11/...schfunk-3.html

A refund on departure can be questioned, a "copycat" is known. How the payment will be made in the future - and in which currency, is now unclear even 10 days later.

This was confirmed when Sean posted it.

The Overlanding Association are working with the authorities to try and resolve it.

In my german Blog Article Buschfunk #4 I did collect news about the guide topic for Ethiopia, and the links to the first travellers who are currently driving around Ethiopia (Sudan/Chad).

Surfy

The Guide solution for Ethiopia that was posted today hasn't gone down well if you read the comments and isn't really a solution for most travellers.

That Facebook group is a copycat group for the Overlanding Association's original Overlanding Africa Group and associated WhatsApp group.

"hasn`t gone well"?

Well... If shipping around by container for approx 7`000$ smells better, this option didnt disappers and is still there. Together with the "new" driving around option (I did show at #Buschfunk ..)

Yes, we overlanders would like to drive free and unrestricted. But on a extened journey like a transafrica, silkroad or panamericana - one single country is just a chapter.

On the silkroad the guide thing is not uncommon, at least if myanmars border are open. It is not nice, not good, but it is just a chapter.

We can still decide to stay at home, to avoid any hassle who can appers on extended journeys.

On the east side of africa you can drive again, that was important to tell.

Surfy

Theres been over 100 responses to the proposed solution, all saying the same thing, no its not a solutions and people will just go round (not exactly a safe option) either shipping or otherwise.

The person who proposed and agreed the guide option is the chairman for the association of national guides in Ethiopia so stands to make money out of the latest development. Not exactly providing a service to travellers !

I haven't seen a single comment agreeing its a good idea or wanting to go ahead with paying for a unknown guide.

The Overlanding Association are still trying to progress a sensible option such as Ethiopia accepting a CDP.

As I am planning to go from Saudie Arabia to Sudan and then South (I am already in the emirates). I would like to read bit more.

I did some searching on Facebook but did not find the group. Is there (other than the German blog) any sources where those information can be found? (like the proposals mentioned in this thread?)

Ethiopia is a bit crucial in my trip south.

Thanks.

The only reason you wont be able to find the facebook groups is if you have been blocked by the groups.

The one with the white pickup tuck on the profile picture is a copycat fake group designed to encroach and divert traffic from the Overlanding Associations Overlanding Africa group with a red sunset profile picture. The original group is better run and moderated without all the businesses spam posting constantly.

Sorry, this thread not clear at all.

What do you mean with:
Where is this posted? where can I read those comments. Please provide a link. Thanks.

Or because I don't know the name of the group and there are many overlander groups on Facebook. Anyone knows the name of the facebook group mentioned in the first post.

Thanks

-Roland-, I don't have any skin in this game, but out of curiosity I did a search on Facebook groups for "Overlanding Africa" and got two results which fit the descriptions given above perfectly. And I assume that one of the earlier posts in this thread described a guided alternative for Ethiopia, but that's just an assumption.

If English is not your first language, these posts might give you some difficulty. If so, I'd suggest making it clear by indicating your home country, so that folks can make an effort to be extra clear. You can do that by editing your profile so that each of your posts gives a "location."

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

My Article is now available too in english language. There you find thoose links:

https://vanlife.4x4tripping.com/2022...vel-world.html

Too with direct links to the travellers and relevant postings. Probably those links to FB are even better, specially if you got a ban on the official channel. I dont give very much about the overlanding association - but I do follow those groups too.

Surfy

Thanks Mark! I probably searched on other words. Probably also not help that Facebook is not my cup of tea. I will check both groups.

I am Dutch but lived abroad for years so my English should be sufficient. Anyway, I googled a lot and so far the only reference I found on this issue is this thread. I would like more validated information on this issue before I change plans.

I have send some emails to a few Ethiopian authorities (though, not expecting any replies) and will keep researching. I will report back here with what I found.

Your English sounds perfect--it was just a thought.

FWIW, Google doesn't search Facebook well (or at all). It's one of the tremendous disadvantages of Facebook groups compared to web forums--information is posted, then rapidly disappears forever. And this means if someone refers you to a Facebook group, you need to go on Facebook to search, and even then your best bet is to do it immediately.

(Someone will be sure to correct me if I'm wrong about any of the above, or if there's a way to search Facebook group content.)

I look forward to hearing about your journey! I'm always plotting to get back to Ethiopia to do some more exploring, now that the infrastructure has improved from the mid-nineties when I was there.

Mark

As likely, the problem is caused by the people in front of the monitors. Often so called as a "layer 8" issue.

Google did crawl at Facebook, you can google stuff also inside of FB. Facebook has a own search function, too in groups. And there are also #hashtags available.

I guess it is not FB`s fault, when we users are creating closed groups. Are discussing stuff only behind "have to "register" first" wall.

That way it is not visible what happens inside. No search engine can read there.

Too bad when even the "overlanding association" try to trap the information in such mudholes. Guess they want to provide insider informations out of travellers who are itself travelling with livetracking and a public social media profile :clap:

Surfy